Pentagon says White House to release budget April 8The Obama administration will release the 2014 budget about two months later than required by law, according to members of Congress who say they were briefed by Pentagon officials. The budget is said to be coming April 8, although the White House hasn't confirmed that date. Congressional Republicans criticized the delay, saying it causes unnecessary uncertainty among military leaders. The Hill/DEFCON Hill blog
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Dramatic sequester warnings generate questionsSome members of Congress are questioning whether military officers "hyped" the effects of sequestration, issuing dramatic warnings that were more dire than was necessary, and making statements better left to civilian leadership. Military officials counter that their warnings about sequestration were real. "Look, military leaders don't make decisions to make a point," Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby wrote in an op-ed piece. "We don't do drama. And we don't involve ourselves in political debates." Defense News
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AIA hires Christian Marrone for national security postChristian P. Marrone has joined the Aerospace Industries Association as vice president for national security and acquisition policy, a post he comes to after serving at 3M Co. as defense markets executive. Marrone previously worked for then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates at the Pentagon as a special assistant. Roll Call (free content)
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Boeing to relocate flight training to MiamiBoeing announced plans to move all of its flight training and maintenance training operations in North America to Miami from Seattle. "With the 787 grounded, there's a lessening of the training demand," said Boeing spokesman Jim Condelles. "There's an opportunity with that situation to relocate to Miami." Reuters
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How SDN Makes Campus Networks BetterWhen should agencies adopt SDN? IDC reports that SDN provides immediate benefits for government campus networks, including modernized IT infrastructures that are more agile, cost-effective, and collaborative.Read this new IDC paper to learn more.

Space

NASA powers down Curiosity to withstand solar strikeThe sun has sent a solar blast scorching through space to Mars, but the rover Curiosity is sleeping through the whole thing. NASA powered down the rover to be on the safe side while Mars experienced a surge in radiation from the solar burst. Such flares have damaged Mars exploration equipment in the past, but NASA doesn't expect the same thing to happen to Curiosity. CBS News/The Associated Press
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Reach AIA members - New advertising opportunityFor the first time, AIA is publishing a comprehensive Membership Resource Guide to provide AIA members with information on all of the benefits and opportunities available to members. The first edition of the AIA Member Resource Guide will be available both in print and online, and distributed to all of AIA's members as well as high-level government and administration officials. If you are interested in advertising in AIA's Member Resource Guide, visit here.

Urgent call to action – write Congress and the White House to repeal sequestrationBecause of the White House's and Congress' inability to reach a deal to reverse sequestration, the initial round of multibillion cuts to defense and non-defense federal agencies has begun. Although these cuts are now being implemented, it is not too late to repeal this bad policy and develop a balanced, bi-partisan solution to our nation's debt and deficit problem. Now is the time to reach out to your elected officials to communicate the urgent need to repeal sequestration. Go to the Second to None website to send a letter to your elected officials in Washington today.